How to torque a castle nut on front spindle

[cfriedman67]

HI All, I am building an MK4 and using a mix of new and donor parts. I am about to attache the front spindle to the upper control arm and you need to torque the castle nut on to the ball joint before you lock it down with a cotter pin. What have you used to be able to torque the castle nut? There is so little room inside the spindle that I cant get a socket in there to use a torque wrench.

Thanks

[mikeinatlanta]

Please don't take this wrong, I am trying to help.

Ball joint nuts are not particularly torque critical and I have never seen a shop use a torque wrench on one. Just get on it as best you can and tighten as tight as you can without risking busting your knuckles. With a standard length combination wrench and just your hands, you won't get enough torque to hurt it. 37 years aviation maintenance experience.

EDIT: Technically, you can torque it with a crow foot or other specialty offset made for torqueing. I wouldn't bother.

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[cfriedman67]

Thanks for the advice. Very helpful and I would not take it the wrong way.